Tool-handle



W. McKENZlE.

TOOL HANDLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, I, I9I9.

Patented May 25, 1920.

WALTER IVICKENZIE, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

Application filed March 1,

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, VALTER McKnNzm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of l/Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tool-Handles; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to tool handles, and more particularly to a handle for hammers and similar tools.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a handle constructed of strands of wire which are so wound as to effectively prevent separation or loosening of the strands, the end portions of the strands being so related and formed as to effectually lock the wire strands together, the straightened end portions also providing means whereby the handle may be readily secured in the eye of a hammer head and a gripping member may be tightly secured to this handle.

A further object is to provide a handle of the character stated which is light and durable while possessing sufficient resiliency to absorb all shocks and jars incident to the use of the hammer.

Another object is to provide a handle of comparatively simple construction which may be readily produced at small cost by a simple wrapping or winding operation of the wire strands. f

Further objects will. appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a hammer with a handle constructed in accordance with my invention applied.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section through the handle the gripping member being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken through the gripping portion of the handle.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the smaller end portion of the handle.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a` modified form of my invention.

In constructing the handle I employ a plurality of strands of wire which are disposed in two series, an inner series and an outer series. The strands l of the inner series are wound in spiral form in one direction so as to provide an inner structure Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 280,070.

of the shape of a hammer handle, the winding starting preferably at a central point to provide a reduced neck portion 2, and the convolutions of the winding increasing uniformly in diameter toward each end of the handle. rlhe end portions of the strands l, after the body portion of the handle has attained the desired length, are then bent or offset so as to extend longitudinally of the handle, as at la. This inner structure is inclosed by an outer structure or casing which is formed of wire strands 3 fitting snugly about the strands l and coiled in the opposite direction thereto. These outer strands also have their end portions straight and offset so as to extend in parallel spaced relation to the portions la, as at 3a. As will be noted more clearly from Fig. 3, the end portions la of strands 1 are so disposed as to be positioned in the plane of the end portions Ba of strands 3, this interposing and ofiI setting of the portions la and 3a of the wire strands of the inner and outer structures serving to eectually lock the strands of the handle together so as to eliminate all possibility of the same becoming in any way detached. As a further security against detachment of the wire strands, or relative movement between these members, these strands are preferably longitudinally corrugated as in Figs. l and 2. When the strands 3 of the outer structure are wrapped tightly about the strands l of the inner structure, these corrugations interlock, the handle thus produced being very strong and having the requisite rigidity while, due to the inherent resiliency of the wire strands, being well adapted'to absorb shock and j ars incident to use of the hammer.

After the handle body has been thus formed, a suitable core is placed in the larger end thereof, and a reinforcing and gripping member t is formed thereon by pouring molten metal, preferably aluminum, upon the straight portions la and 3a of the wire strands. As stated, these portions are spaced a short distance apart so that this metal Hows between these strands forming an inner tubular reinforcing member 5 which is integrally connected to an outer reinforcing and gripping member 6, the interlocking straight portions of the strands being thus tightly secured together against relative movement, this securing of the strands serving to elfectually prevent all possibility of disengagement or locseness `thereon by pouring molten metal, preferably Babbitt metal, into this eye so as to flow between and about the wire strands. As'these wire strands are corrugated, the metal plug-thus produced `serves to effectually secure the hammer head upon the handle and eliminates all possibility of accidental detachment thereof. The handle may be readily formed by winding or twistingfrom wire strands of suitable gage so as to correspond insize and shape to the well known wooden handle and may be produced at very small cost.

As will vbe seen upon reference to Fig. 5 of fthe drawings, this handle may also `be readily 'iformed by braiding the strands of wire ftogether instead of coiling them spirally f as in Figs. l to 4 inclusive.

The handle formed infthis manner may be readily produced-and possesses the desired rigidity and strength while also having an appreciable 40 vention are disclosed.

` amount of resiliency. f

'Itwill be evidentthat there may be slight changes `made in the construction and arrangement of the details `of my invention withoutdeparting from the field and scope 'of-the same, and l intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred forms only of my in- I claim is: l. In a tool handle, an inner series of 'wirestrands twisted spirally and having their end portions extended longitudinally of the handle, andan outer series of wire strands twisted spirally about said inner series'and having their end portions eX- tended longitudinally of the handle, the

end portions of said inner .series of wires "being upwardly off-set and interposedwith f [the` end 'portions of the outer series so as toprevent relative movement between the i strands ofsaid inner and outer series.

' 2. In atool handle, an inner series of wire 3vstrands twisted spirally so asto produce a -handle form, and an outer series of wire "strands twisted spirally about said inner "series, the strands of the inner series and the strands of the outer series being longitudinally corrugated so as to prevent relative movement between the strands of the two series. i

3. ln a tool handle, an inner series of wire strands twisted spirally into .handle form, and an outer series of wire strands twisted spirally in the' lopposite direction to the strands of the inner series and fitting tightly about the same, the end portions of the wires of the two series being straight and eX- tending 'longitudinally of the handle, said straight end portions of the inner series of wires being interposed with the straight end portions of theouter kseries of wires for securing the wires of the two series against relative movement.

end of the handle being disposed to form an element adapted to be inserted through the eye of a hammer head, and a reinforcing and gripping member cast about the straight end portions of the wires at the other end of the handle so as to provide integrally connected inner and outer reinforcing elements, the straight portions of the wires being embedded in said member and secured against relative movement thereby.

5. The combination with a tool head provided with an eye, of a handleformed from a plurality of strands of wire coiled to provide a body portion, the end portions of the strands at one end of said body being disposed longitudinally and spaced apart to provide a hollow element for insertion into the eye of the tool head, and a securing plug formed of molten metal poured into the eye of the head and completely surrounding the strands of the end portions of said body so as to prevent withdrawal thereof from said tool head.

In testimony whereof I a'HiX my signature in presence of two witnesses. y

WALTER MCKENZIE.

Witnesses l E. WARDELICH, Z. WALTEMEYER. y 

